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face mask

American  
Or facemask

noun

face masks plural
  1. Sports. the protective equipment, usually made of steel or plastic, that guards the face, as the steel cage worn by a baseball catcher or the molded plastic covering worn by a hockey goalkeeper.

  2. any of various similar devices to shield the face, sometimes attached to or forming part of a helmet, as that worn by workers engaged in a hazardous activity.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of face mask

First recorded in 1905–10; face + mask

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Swedish star Felicia is known for wearing a protective face mask during her performances - which is more to do with body image than a fear of disease.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Swedish star Felicia performs her song in a diamond-studded face mask.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Kim, who appeared in court wearing a white face mask, kept her head lowered as the verdict was announced.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

Wearing a face mask, Maradona struggled to walk onto the field on his own.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Finally, I take a step back and put on the face mask again as a peace offering, before leaning against the wall.

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott

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